How Smashing The NIMBYs Created Modern Capitalism

8 hours ago

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 established Parliamentary supremacy in England, subordinating the monarchy and enabling legislative productivity.
Post-revolution, Parliament enacted enclosure acts to consolidate fragmented landholdings, improving agricultural efficiency and yields through supermajority support.
Parliament reformed strict inheritance laws (entails) via estate acts, allowing landowners to modify property rights for improvements, often benefiting heirs and spurring development.
Turnpike acts facilitated infrastructure improvements by letting landowners and merchants form trusts to build and maintain roads, charging tolls to cover costs, which reduced transport costs and enabled market specialization.
These reforms transformed England's economy, leading to agricultural surpluses, industrial growth, and the conditions necessary for the Industrial Revolution.
Modern parallels exist, such as vetocracy in developed countries, where strong property rights and regulations hinder growth; supermajority-based reforms in housing and land use offer potential solutions.

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